The Supreme Court punted the issue of affirmative action back to lower courts — a decision that both conservative lawmakers and civil rights groups have claimed as a victory.

Rep. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, lauded the court’s ruling, which continues to allow universities to consider race in admissions but calls for another look at whether University of Texas at Austin’s policies are necessary to achieve a diverse student body.

“Discriminating because of race is wrong, and this was a victory for our color-blind Constitution,” Cruz said in a statement. “In recent years, universities have made major strides to expand admissions for minorities and low-income students, working hard for the American Dream. Universities should continue to do so, expanding opportunity for everyone, but that can be accomplished without discriminating on the basis of race.”

Several civil rights organizations have also praised the decision, predicting that lower courts will uphold the University of Texas’ admissions policies after additional review.

David Hinojosa, regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said the ruling puts a sharper focus on race-conscious policies without imposing new limits or standards.

“At the end of the day, this is essentially like a check engine light has come on,” he said. “The court has said, let’s look under the hood … We definitely don’t need to just discard the car altogether.”

Damon Hewitt, a lawyer with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said the case’s lengthy time under review – it was argued eight months ago– was a positive sign for the future of race-based policies.

“It could have been a quick, simple disastrous result. But the longer things played out, the more people realized, the court’s really wrestling with something,” he said. “What we know is we got the result we think is the proper result, the just result.”

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat, said the ruling “reaffirms the value of diverse learning environments for all.”

State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, a UT law school grad and a San Antonio Democrat, “gives the Fifth Circuit a second chance to make the right call and affirm the value of diversity in college admissions.”

“I know that my time at UT — surrounded by people with different backgrounds and unique histories — helped shape the type of person I am today, as an attorney, a legislator and an American,” Fischer said.

All the way in Albany, N.Y., New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman claimed victory, too.

“We are pleased that today’s decision preserves the vital principle that fostering racial diversity in education is a compelling interest critical to the future of the states and our nation,” said Schneiderman, who filed a “friend of the court” brief siding with UT on behalf of 14 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.